Guitar Jack tightener

[markbunney]

Does anyone have any experience of using a jack tightener like the one pictured?

 

The nut on the jack socket of my Duff Mckagen jazz bass special works itself loose (to the point of falling off) after every practice or gig.

 

my boss wl20 transmitter is quite heavy as well which makes the problem worse.

 

I am worried that by keep tightening it by hand, I’ll eventually twist/break one of the wires or connections that are attached inside.

 

saw the jack tightener for sale and wondered if anyone had opinions before I got one

[Baloney Balderdash]

I would think what you fear is exactly what is at risk at happening if tightening the jack nut just on one side without holding on to the jack socket on the other side, preventing it from twisting around as you turn.

 

Also if there is not already one using a shim with "teeth" on the inside side of the jack socket and then tightening properly should prevent the jack socket from loosening in the future.

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[markbunney]

2 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

I would think what you fear is exactly what is at risk at happening if tightening the jack nut just on one side without holding on to the jack socket on the other side, preventing it from twisting around as you turn.

 

 

Thanks. I have tried taking the backplate off as well, and holding the inside of the jack whilst I tighten the outside but it still came loose.

 

this device is I think meant to only tighten the nut whilst holding the rest of the jack tight

[PaulThePlug]

Serrated lock washer...

All the pots, jack sockets, switches over recent years have all only had a plain washer, and one nut. What's that all about?

Lock Washer, Plain Washer and 2x Nuts for 'depth' fitment...

[Baloney Balderdash]

12 minutes ago, markbunney said:

Thanks. I have tried taking the backplate off as well, and holding the inside of the jack whilst I tighten the outside but it still came loose.

 

this device is I think meant to only tighten the nut whilst holding the rest of the jack tight

I think you missed my edit:

15 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

...Also if there is not already one using a shim with "teeth" on the inside side of the jack socket and then tightening properly should prevent the jack socket from loosening in the future.

 

Locking washer, as suggested in the above post, was what I actually meant.

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[fretmeister]

Get some Liquid Threadlock.

 

It's a lower powered glue designed for keeping nuts / bolts done up but not preventing them from being purposely undone with the right tools.

[Bigguy2017]

Get a small bag of lock-washers.

 

Switchcraft jacks and CTS pots use washers with 3/8" (9.5mm ish) internal diameter.

 

Lock Washer (Star) for 3/8 Pots and Jacks (pack of 8) Lock Washer For 3/8 Pots and Jacks [STAR(B)] - £2.20 : Axecaster

 

Barrel jacks need 12mm internal diameter

 

Import (metric) jacks and pots are usually smaller.

 

Hosco do wee baggies in all the common sizes,imperial and metric...

 

 

[mcnach]

1 hour ago, markbunney said:

Thanks. I have tried taking the backplate off as well, and holding the inside of the jack whilst I tighten the outside but it still came loose.

 

this device is I think meant to only tighten the nut whilst holding the rest of the jack tight

 

 

If you already did it by taking the plate off and it came loose, the tool will allow you to tighten it without removing the plate but it'll come loose again.

 

Best to address the loosening by using a locking washer, whichever method you use, and ensure it'll stay tight for the foreseeable.

[Skybone]

Loctite 242 Thread Lock

[BigRedX]

Unless the jack socket fitting is recessed, I can't see that tool being any more useful that either the right sized spanner or a good quality monkey wrench.

[dudewheresmybass]

from a quick google search, that tool appears to hold the inside of the socket whilst tightening the nut. 

Should do the trick

[Nail Soup]

I read the blurb too, and yes it does aim to be more than a spanner. It grips the inside so it doesn't twist while it turns the nut.

If it works I think it's a pretty useful tool. I'll consider getting one.

 

Although as others have said, there may be steps you can take to prevent loose nut in the first place.

[Gasman]

Another tool that does this is 'Jack the Gripper' - as described in the Haynes Fender bass maintenance manual

[Nail Soup]

2 minutes ago, Gasman said:

Another tool that does this is 'Jack the Gripper'

Great name!  I even suspect they maybe thought of the name first and had to invent a product to go with it 🙂 .

[mcnach]

2 hours ago, Nail Soup said:

I read the blurb too, and yes it does aim to be more than a spanner. It grips the inside so it doesn't twist while it turns the nut.

If it works I think it's a pretty useful tool. I'll consider getting one.

 

Although as others have said, there may be steps you can take to prevent loose nut in the first place.

 

Yeah, I like the idea of having one of those in my gig bag.

[Lozz196]

30 minutes ago, mcnach said:

 

Yeah, I like the idea of having one of those in my gig bag.

Agree, ideal for a short term solution at a gig, think I’ll be getting one of these

[MrCrane]

I had a similar issue with my Jack Casady, the tool in the OP was about as much use as a bucket of warm spit.

 

I then  got hold of the'Jack the Gripper' tool cheap and it worked very well. (I subsequently applied some threadlock and haven't had an issue since).

Edited April 25, 2023 by MrCrane

[markbunney]

Thanks all for the responses, am going to pick up some thread lock and give the a try 

[Downunderwonder]

8 hours ago, markbunney said:

Thanks all for the responses, am going to pick up some thread lock and give the a try 

There are many grades of thread lock. You want a gentle one like Loctite 222. Use with ventilation and don't inhale the fumes.

 

All these products contain a kind of dilute superglue that is tolerably toxic until you get too much exposure to it. Then it can cause mayhem in your immune system.

[Downunderwonder]

The risk with a hard thread lock is you get the reverse problem of spinning the jack the other way trying to loosen the nut.

[KingBollock]

I agree with those suggesting a serrated washer and, if there’s room, a second nut.

 

However, if you choose to go down the thread-locker route, instead or as well, this is the stuff I use:

 

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/zap-technology-z-42-thread-locker-14329

 

It takes a tiny blob of it to do the job.

Edited April 26, 2023 by KingBollock